Fluid-jet nozzle for blowing mineral wool



Oct. 16, 1934. R, POWELL FLUID JET NOZZLE FOR BLOWING MINERAL WOOL FiledMay 19, 1931 IN V EN TOR. Edward B Pan/ell. BY 8 4 I A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES.

FLUID-JET NOZZLE FOR BLOWING I MINERAL WOOL Edward B. Powell,Alexandria, Ind., assignor to Johns-Maurine Corporation, New York, N.Y., a euporation of New York Application May 19, 1931, Serial No.538,487

- 4 Claims. (01. 83-91) 5 material.

The quality of mineral wool is largely dependent upon the viscosity ofthe slag stream and the manner in which the fluid-jet is impinged uponthe stream since this relationship is largely o controlling with respectto the length and fineness of the blown fibers and the proportion of theslag which is not converted into fibers but remains in the fibers in theform of hard pellets or shot. Heretofore various forms of fluid-jet 5nozzles have been proposed for the purpose of bringing about a moreeflicient impingement of the fluid-jet and molten slag stream; however,none to my knowledge have proven entirely satisfactory. A number ofproposed blowing de- 0 vices included a plurality of blowing nozzlesarranged with the design of reducing the formation of shot to a minimum.The devices proposed heretofore, have proven unsatisfactory except atvery low slag viscosities.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of afluid-jet nozzle which obviates the disadvantages and limitations of thetypes above mentioned.

The fluid-jet nozzle provided by my invention comprises a tubular body,preferably an integral casting, having a V-shaped orifice in the endthereof, the configuration of the body being such that the velocityofthe steam or other fluid passing therethrough is progressivelyincreased in the direction of the orifice. The external contours of thenozzle are preferably stream lined with respect to the orifice in orderto permit high air velocity adjacent the orific with a minimum formationof undesirable eddy currents.

Fig. 1 is a side view of the nozzle and illustrates diagrammatically themanner in which the fluid-jet impinges the molten slag stream;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe nozzle;

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view of the same; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, the nozzle comprises a tubular body orintegral casting 1 formed from any suitable material, such as cast iron.The inner part of the tube is provided with suitable means for securingit to the steam line, such as screw threads 2. The opposite end of thetube terminates in a V-shaped orifice comprising slots 3. The fluid-jetproduced by such an orifice will, of course, be of a trough-like shape,and the term V-shape" is employed herein generically to describe anorifice adapted to produce a fluid-jet of this character. The innersurfaces of the side walls 4 of the tube are gradually convergent insection in the direction of the orifice, as shown, so that the velocityof the steam or other jet fluid is progressively and gradually increasedbefore passing into the orifice. to enhance this effect, the portion ofthe tubular body between the slots of the orifice is preferably extendedinwardly in the form of a wedgeshaped element 5 which divides thecurrent of steam evenly betweenthe two slots. The face of thewedge-shaped element 5 preferably projects a slight distance forward ofthe outer edges of the orifice, since it has been ascertained that thisexpedient results in improved characteristics in the blowing jet. Theouter surfaces of the side walls 4 are likewise convergent in section orstream-lined in the direction of the orifice since this configurationpermits the attainment of a high jet velocity without the formation ofundesirable eddy currents in the atmosphere adjacent the jet.

In the blowing of mineral wool it has been found desirable in some casesto add a waterproofing or binding liquid, such as asphalt or In orderthe like, to the steam jet. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment ofmy invention as shown,

. a liquid passageway 6 is drilled thru the wall of wedge 5 into theorifice. By terminating this passageway in the portion of the bodybounding the orifice the liquid is introduced into the steam jet at thepoint of its maximum velocity, and a much superior distribution of theliquid is thus obtained. A small tube or pipe 7 is inserted in the outerend of passageway 6 for the introduction of the liquid thereto.

The nozzle provided by my invention has been found to be particularlyadapted to the production of soft long-fibered mineral wool with aminimum shot content regardless of variations in character of the slagstream.

What I claim is:

1. A fluid-jet nozzle for blowing mineral wool which comprises a tubularbody having a V- shaped orifice in an end thereof and internal sidewalls gradually converging in the direction of the orifice, whereby thevelocity of the fiuid is gradually and progressively increased as ittravels through the tubular body into said orifice and the externalcontours of the body being gradually convergent in section in thedirection of the orifice.

2. A fluid-jet nozzle for blowing mineral wool V orifice being extendedinwardly in the form of a wedge-shaped element adapted to divide thefiuid current evenly between the two slots of the orifice, the fluidpassageways leading to the orifice and defined by the inner surfaces ofthe wedge and side walls of the tubular body and the external contoursof the body being gradually convergent in section in the direction ofthe orifice.

3. A fluid-jet nozzle for blowing mineral wool which comprises a tubularbody having a V- shaped orifice in the end thereof, the portion of thetubular body between the two slots of the orifice being extendedinwardly in the form of a wedge-shaped element adapted to divide thefluid current evenly between the two slots of the orifice, the fluidpassageways leading to the orifice and defined by the inner surfaces ofthe wedge and side walls of the tubular body and the external contoursof the body being gradually convergent in section in the direction ofthe orifice, the face portion of said wedge-shaped element beingdisposed so as to extend slightly forward ofthe outer side edges of theorifice.

4. A fluid-Jet nozzle for blowing mineral wool which comprises a tubularbody having a V- shaped orifice in an end thereof the internal sidewalls and external contours of the body being gradually convergent inthe' direction of the orifice, whereby the velocity of the fiuid isgradually and progressively increased as it travels through the tubularbody into said orifice, said body being provided with a liquidpassageway opening into the portion of the body bounding said orifice. v

' EDWARD R. POWELL.

